MinistrEmail August 2016 – Called Out & Destined

Called Out & Destined

There is a calling and destiny in every single believer! You may be trying to discover what that is? Maybe you are just needing clarity? The truth is that God is not hiding what He wants from you and has even promised us in the Scripture that the Holy Spirit will “…show us things to come…”

Study with me, and as you do, believe God with me to open up the door so that you can both see and go through into the heights of all that the Lord has called you to. To begin I want us to read together from Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

There are a number of key issues that I believe the Lord would highlight to us from this passage. Firstly, there is no such thing as individual Christian destiny! Every believer in Christ is part of a whole, The Body of Christ. Every gift, calling, and ministry fulfilled through individuals has a direct effect on the Body, and the Body of Christ has a direct effect in those callings.

We see Paul the Apostle pleading with the Ephesian Church to “walk worthy of the calling…” He then immediately explains what that means;

“2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The call of God has both personal holiness and corporate wholeness at its core. Indeed true Godly holiness will manifest in the kind of gentleness, longsuffering, love and bond of peace that Paul highlights here. Verse 4 continues to highlight the ‘oneness’ that we have been joined together into.

Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We are one, in Him. Now, from verse 7 we begin to see that this oneness is made up of many individual parts that are crucial to the rest of the Body. We also see a very interesting narrative on what happened to Jesus after His death and what He achieved when God raised Him from the dead. Firstly verse 7 gives the context;

Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

To each one of us….grace (charis, the unmerited favour, supply, empowerment, sufficiency of God)

“according to the measure” – to this degree, “of Christ’s gift.” – what the Anointed One and His Anointing has given to us.

What we are individually, was given to us by God’s grace. We are not “self made”; we do not “decide our own destiny”. We are given a gift, and that gift to us, cost Jesus everything. The measure of our gift of life, calling and destiny, was paid for by the blood, stripes, poverty, death and resurrection of Jesus. God’s original intent for you, who He called you to be, was stolen from you. Jesus went to the lengths of going to Hell to take it back!

Romans 6:4 (NKJV) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This is a fundamental to our faith. It’s part of what must be preached to save people. Most preach the life of Jesus, and so we should, but we must also preach the death and resurrection of Jesus. A person is saved on the belief of Jesus resurrection and the confession of Him as their Lord. So now in that context;

Ephesians 4:7-10 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this, “HE ASCENDED”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Verse 10 makes it clear, that Jesus not only descend for us into Hell, but He also ascended to take His place of authority and in so doing, He raised us up with Him. A study of Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 shows this clearly, and the original readers of this epistle would have just heard these words preceeding what we are studying in chapter 4.

Ephesians 1:19-23 (NKJV) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

So our context is;

Ephesians 4:7-10 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH…..

The grace gift of God is according to the power of the resurrection and then the ascension of Jesus, when He not only ascended, but also raised us up to a place where He could assign divine power gifts to us.

Now we come to the 5 fold offices or graces given to the church to benefit the whole.

Ephesians 4:10-12 (NKJV) He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Not everyone is called to the 5 fold ministry and the reason for this is simple. The 5 fold ministry is a calling to the Church. Their primary ministry is to equip the Body of Christ. If everyone were a 5 fold minister then we would all be called to the church and no one would minister to the world.

The ministries listed here all have very specific tasks, and yet at times someone can function in more than one office. (If someone has to try to explain to you what office they hold, be wary, it should be obvious.)

There is a perfection of the saints that is emphasized here. A beautiful picture of the Bride that Jesus is returning for.

Ephesians 4:12-15 (NKJV) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

That is a powerful picture of us becoming who we already are in Christ! We should not be tossed around by different doctrines, thoughts, fads and clever ideas. Our faith is built not on programs and persuasion, but on demonstration of the Spirit and Power! When we speak the truth in Love, we will edify one another. As pastor of a church I am called to teach, and speak in Love and help my church family grow up! I am also called to teach other parts of the Body. That calling was on me long before the Lord asked my wife and I to plant a church. If I don’t teach other parts of the Body of Christ also, then I will be lacking in what I can give to my congregation.

Now let’s look at the power that is released, when we come together in the gifting’s and callings of God.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Notice that here, the Body edifies itself in Love. It’s not only the 5 fold ministries responsibility. Every part, every joint has a share. If you were a soldier and you were equipped with a gun, you would be trained to use it, but at the end of the day it is your responsibility to load it and aim it and pull the trigger. That is why the authority structure exists within the church. If you don’t know who is assigned to train you and quip you, you will never know your commission. If you jump around from church to church, you will be easily deceived and confused by every wind of doctrine. Take a closer look with me again at verse 16;

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Take a look at this verse in a few other translations. Firstly the Passion Translation and then The Amplified.

Ephesians 4:16 (TPT) For his “body” has been formed in his image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts are imparted and operating effectively throughout the whole body, we are built up and made perfect in love.

Ephesians 4:16 (AMPC) For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

What each part has is powerful, but what we see here is that the “joint” or where we join together, has supply. That means that we work powerfully at the point where we connect our gifts and callings. When every part does its share in connection and is joined to the part alongside, there is a power release of supernatural proportions.

The word translated ‘effective working’ here is explained from the Greek by Dodson as;

I’m telling you that our unity has everything to do with the supernatural power release. Every power manifestation of the Holy Spirit is governed by Love. That means we can no longer walk in the worlds way of doing things. Verses 17-32 walks out how different we are to live now. In fact we are to actively put off the old man. Again lets read it together in the Passion Translation.

Ephesians 4:20-24 (TPT) But this is not the way of life that Christ has unfolded within you. If you have really experienced the Anointed One, and heard his truth, it will be seen in your life; for we know that the ultimate reality is embodied in Jesus! And he has taught you to let go of the lifestyle of the ancient man, the old self-life, which was corrupted by sinful and deceitful desires that spring from delusions. Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And you will be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.

It’s time to let go of the selfish ambition, which has shaped the decisions that we have made.

It’s time to rediscover the supply that you have to minister grace to another.

It’s time to see the circuit of His power unbroken throughout the Body.

If you have been disconnected or withdrawn from the Body of Christ, then you will not have been able to rise up fully into all that the Lord has called you to. The devil has tried to deceive so many believers to disconnect, and as with any limb that is severed, it simply has no life flow.

Make the decision today, to not only see all that the Lord wants you to do, but to whom you are supposed to be vitally connected, so that He flows through you to them and from them to you.

We are His Body, and individual members TOGETHER.

Once again, can I encourage you to confess this over your life in this GREAT YEAR!

I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE GREAT YEAR FOR WHAT EVER I NEED IT TO BE. I BELIEVE GOD AND HIS WORD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GREAT BREAKING LOOSE OF EVERYTHING I NEED TO FULFILL MY DESTINY IN GOD. I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL CAUSE THINGS I HAVE BELIEVED FOR TO SUDDENLY MANIFEST AS I FAITHFULLY STAND IN FAITH. IM GOING BACK TO THE COVENANTS OF GOD. IM GOING BACK TO THE WORSHIP AND PRAISE OF GOD AND THE POWER TO HEAL.

I DECLARE THIS YEAR ‘THE GREAT YEAR’ CONCERNING……….

As you sow into this ministry this month, do so in faith, agreeing with what God see’s when He looks at the Church, the Body of Christ. Sow believing that together we are connected to the purposes of God and together we will fulfil all that the Lord has destined us to do….Thank you for your partnership in this!

Are you a partner with Christ Ministries International? If not, then please prayerfully consider joining with us in prayer and financial partnership to help us reach as many people as possible in the days ahead with the message that God has placed within our hearts to teach.